Jan. 13, 2008

Stats

Providence, R.I. - No. 4 Mercyhurst scored three goals in the last 12 minutes of the game to defeat Providence 3-0 Sunday afternoon. The Lakers rebounded after a 7-3 setback Saturday and improved to 15-5-2 overall. The Friars dropped to 9-9-2.

Junior defender Natalie Payne broke her 13-game goal-scoring drought dating to late October when she beat Providence junior netminder Danielle Ciarletta at 8:19 into the third. It was Payne's third goal of the year and third game-winner of her career. Payne was helped by senior forward Sherilyn Fraser.

Senior captain Stephanie Jones extended the lead to 2-0 when she scored shorthanded, with help from junior Valerie Chouinard, at 13:06. It was Jones' second goal of the weekend. Freshman defender Cassea Schols finished the scoring with her second of the season, and first in a span of 16 games, with just 67 seconds left in the contest. Schols' empty-net goal was helped by Payne and sophomore forward Meghan Agosta, who tied her own club record for consecutive games with at least one point at 16.

Senior goaltender Laura Hosier got her 64th career win, and moved into first place all-time, by stopping all 32 Providence scoring attempts. Her 64 wins are one better than Desi Clark's 63. Clark played from 2001-2005. Hosier now has 20 career shutouts, just four behind Clark's 24.

Mercyhurst outshot Providence 47-32 and killed all nine Providence power plays. The Lakers finished 0 for 4. Mercyhurst now leads the all time series 6-3.

The Lakers return to the Ice Center next Friday and Saturday when they begin an eight-game home stand against Yale and Brown. Both games start at 7:00pm.